I am presently thinking about it as I feel that as we are not planning on moving back to the UK, it would make my life easier to have Spanish nationality…especially as then the delightful officals might possibly cope with my documents 😀 . Or has anyone had a child here and can advise me as to what passport they are entitled too…at the moment I have the registry office saying our daughter is Spanish by birth and the national police saying she is British!! As usual, they can never agree!!

I think there are also inheritance tax benefits as well for our children, as otherwise they get hit twice…

I agree with Katy on the nationality issue. My husband was born in Chittagong, India of white British parents. ( his father was an officer with the Ghurkas) When we married we lived in Paris. When I was pregnant with my son, I returned to the UK for the birth as if he had been born in Paris, any subsequent children my son may have, would not be eligible for British nationality. Two previous generations having been born outside the UK. Also, even though we returned to the UK, my son would have been eligible for the French National Service, when he reached the required age. I think to change nationality from being a British citizen is a decision to be taken very thoughtfully and carefully.

Nationalism aside. The world that we live in with EU etc. Does it matter!!!what nationality one holds. Shouldn’t we be citizens of the world ?

Why should one change the nationality, just because of some bureaucrat. Besides, Inheritance/Inheritance tax etc has little to do with nationality it is how you plan your affairs. Nationality, can be claimed by birth, parentage etc.

Looking at the UK borders website and others regarding Spanish nationality, whatever the registry office says, I think the police were right as we can give our daughter nationality by descent, she becomes British. If that was not possible she would automatically be Spanish. Whether I change my nationality or not, her children will NOT be British nationals, as she is only British by descent, possibly even if they are born in the UK (not sure what they become then, guess its down to the father!!)

As we are not planning on returning to the UK, I think it would much easier if my children could be Spanish nationals as hopefully they would then avoid problems in the future but who knows, I sure it would just lead to other ones..such as “but your parents were born in Scotland, how can you be Spanish..” I guess they can change, if they wish, at 18.

To me it is not important if I am British or Spanish as it theory it should not matter at all as we are all EEU as Sheekel pointed out. If my husband stayed as British, it should not matter anyway as then our children as still British by descent if for some reason Spain or the UK left the EEU.

Unfortunately, it does seem to matter here for various reasons. For example, the UK government issues documents without an official stamp, which has caused all sorts of problems..(advise to anyone moving here, get all your official docs legalized…marriage and birth certs etc).

The tax issue is actually quite a big one, if on death we are domiciled to the UK, our kids will have to pay inheritance tax there on our house here (we have nothing but a bank account in the UK now!) and capital gains here. The only way to change that is to change nationality as apparently it is very difficult to convince the authorities in the UK that you are not domiciled there even if you have nothing there!

Don’t forget if your son takes Spanish Nationality, he will have to do military service. He might not like the idea as he may be a pacifist.

On the capital gains Tax front, I feel and I have not looked into yet at present its better to pay capital gains Tax in Spain as the rate is the same and in addition you can still claim the tapering relief,

This tapering relief needs to be confirmed. I feel that the recent changes in the Spanish Taxes e.g abolishing of Patrimonio, Inheritance Tax etc may make it attractive, Tax wise at least to take up residency in Spain.

Keep in mind that your children may want to go back to the UK when they are older. A friend’s Daughter (born in Spain) went to live with her Grandmother and decided to stay she has now married in the Uk and has no intention of coming back to Spain.

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